Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing – Local trick play processing – With randomly accessible medium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2004-05-25
Chevalier, Robert (Department: 2615)
Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing
Local trick play processing
With randomly accessible medium
C386S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06741790
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of geographical information systems. The present invention relates particularly to correlating geographical information from a global positioning system with images that are recorded by a portable video recording device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Video recording devices record images and associated audio on a recording medium, such as for example a tape, for later play back. Some video recording devices, such as for example a VCR, include a video input port and an audio input port, which are connected directly to a video source and/or an audio source, such as for example a television or cable box, and a power source, such as for example a 110-volt outlet. Other video recording devices are portable, such as for example a camcorder. Portable video recording devices are usually hand held, battery operated devices, and include a lens, which allows a user of the portable video recording device to record images, and one or more microphones, which allows a user to record audio associated with the images recorded. Typically, portable video recording devices are capable of recording sound stereophonically and thus, will have two audio channels. Some portable video recording devices also include an audio input port to which an audio source can be directly connected. A portable video recording device allows a user to record events as they occur at locations remote from a power source.
Video recording devices also reproduce, i.e., playback, images and audio that have been previously recorded. In this regard, a video recording device may be connected directly to a video display device, such as for example a television, such that previously recorded images may be reproduced on the display device. Portable video recording devices sometimes have a small display screen which allows a user of the video recording device to view the images being recorded by the portable video recording device, as well as view images that were previously recorded.
Video recording devices typically record images and associated audio from a video and audio source in sequential sequence on tape. For example, a family on a cross country road trip may stop at various sites of interest and record images and audio at those sites for later viewing. When the tape is later viewed, the recorded images and associated audio are viewable in the sequence in which the images and associated audio were recorded. In order to track the relative location of recorded images and associated audio, video recording devices usually include a counter which provides a numerical value which corresponds to the position of the tape. For example, the counter may be a relative numerical value or a temporal based numerical value. Thus, a user of a portable video recording device is able to track the location on the tape of a particular set of recorded images and associated audio by manually noting the value of the counter when the images are recorded. For example, when a family stops at Niagara Falls and record images and audio at that site, the value of the counter can be manually noted at the time of recording and correlated to the geographic location of the images and associated audio. When the tape is later viewed, a user can use the manual recordation of the counter to cue the tape to the images desired to be viewed. Alternatively, a user can locate a particular set of recorded images by playing the tape, either in a forward or backward direction, until the desired set of recorded images and associated audio is viewed.
A global positioning system is a commonly used source of geographic position data. In this regard, a global positioning system compatible receiver can be used to identify the geographic position of the receiver. The global positioning system compatible receiver generally ascertains its geographic position by detecting radio signals transmitted by satellites in an earth orbit. Reception of the signals allows the global positioning system compatible receiver to pinpoint the receiver's location in terms of longitude and latitude coordinates. Commercially available global positioning system compatible receivers typically include a display screen to display the geographic information to the user of the receiver. Commercially available global positioning system compatible receivers also typically include an output port which communicates the geographic information using a digital message (RS-232) protocol.
Commercially available mapping software, such as for example software known under the names MAPINFO and ARCVIEW, can be used to display a map of a geographic area. Commercially available mapping software can also accept as input geographic information from a global positioning system-compatible receiver and indicate the location corresponding to the geographic information on a displayed map.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There are a number of applications for which it is desirable to correlate images recorded with a portable video recording device with geographic information from a global positioning system, where the geographic information corresponds to the geographic location where the images were recorded. Among these applications are situations where images are recorded at remote locations for subsequent viewing, based in part, on the geographic location where the images were recorded. For example, governmental agencies and farmers use portable video recording devices to monitor the plant growth at remote locations for agricultural purposes, such as determining the effectiveness of weed control programs or the growth rate of crops. By way of further example, travelers use portable video recording devices to record particular points of interest, such as for example Niagara Falls, Mt. Rushmore or the Grand Canyon, to provide themselves with visual memories of their travels. In these and other situations, it is desirable to provide a way which facilitates the viewing of recorded images based on the selection of the geographic location whereat the images were recorded.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for simultaneously recording images and geographic information provided by a global positioning system on a single recording medium.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for relating geographic information provided by a global positioning system with the position of recorded images on a recording medium.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for viewing recorded images based on the selection of geographic information.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for correlating video recordings by geography. The applications of the present invention are many. For example, in agriculture the present invention can be used in insect and weed control, plant health analysis, water management, and similar tasks. In real estate, the present invention can be used for “virtual” property tours, neighborhood evaluation, and mapping property location. For utility companies, the present invention can be used to help maintain distribution systems such as poles, transformers, hydrants etc. For street maintenance, the present invention can be used to evaluate the condition and map repairs of roads and bridges, culverts, potholes, signage, painted traffic lines, etc. The present invention can also be used in police and emergency services, natural resource management, environmental monitoring and general graphical information system map-making. The present invention can be used in “vacation” mapping, hunting, fishing, bicycling, or hiking excursions where geographic indexing makes access to video records simple and fun.
One aspect of the present invention includes simultaneously recording images and information corresponding to the geographic location of the images being recorded, on a single recording medium. In this regard, a portable video recording device can be used to record video images on a recording medium, such as video tape
Chevalier Robert
Greenberg & Traurig, LLP
Posthumus, Esq. John R.
Red Hen Systems, Inc.
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